Dublin Bus demonstrates its continued commitment to its policy of inclusiveness this LGBT Pride Month with a number of initiatives including changes to its paternity leave policy and the launch of a poster campaign with the theme of promoting an inclusive workplace for all its employees.
Paternity leave is a non-statutory leave whereby organisations have the choice to provide it or not for employees. Such policies generally applied to male employees who could avail of this leave when their female partner gives birth to or adopts a child. Dublin Bus had previously introduced a three day paternity leave policy but, in working to ensure greater equality, has now extended paternity leave to all of its employees, whether in a heterosexual or same sex relationship, whose partner gives birth to or adopts a child.
In addition to this Dublin Bus has developed a poster campaign featured in all of its garages across the city aimed at promoting an inclusive workplace. The posters feature a Dublin Bus attired person with the tagline “I’m a bus driver and I’m gay. So what!” and “I’m gay, straight, bi … a person”. The campaign highlights the continued policy of inclusiveness and support of all employees. It was launched this month by Dublin Bus CEO Paddy Doherty, Davin Roche of GLEN, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), and Carole Sullivan from the Equality Authority’s Equality Mainstreaming Unit.
Speaking about its LGBT initiatives Phil Donohue, Dublin Bus Head of Human Resources and Development, said “We want an environment of mutual respect and inclusiveness for our employees and customers and decided to bring visibility to our LGBT employees through the poster campaign in celebration of Dublin Pride Month. Our change in paternity policy is an important move in establishing that inclusiveness and recognising the equal importance of same sex relationships among our employees.”
By working with GLEN and the Equality Authority, and demonstrating this commitment to and support of its LGBT employees, Dublin Bus has become GLEN Diversity Champions. The Diversity Champions programme helps employers understand the business case for being inclusive of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees by ensuring that any policies comply with LGBT legislation and best practice.
Dublin Bus will also provide GLEN with an open top bus for use in this year’s Dublin Pride parade taking place on Saturday June 28th and as with previous years avatars will be changed to feature the Rainbow Pride flag on all Dublin Bus social media sites.
Davin Roche, Director of Workplace Diversity, GLEN said “Dublin Bus is showcasing its leadership in supporting LGBT staff and the diverse communities it serves. I am delighted to welcome Dublin Bus to Diversity Champions, Ireland’s network for LGBT inclusive companies. Dublin Bus understands that employees perform best when they can be themselves. GLEN is proud to be working with Dublin Bus to ensure that there are no barriers to LGBT employees performing to the best of their ability.”
Dublin Bus is very committed to diversity in relation to its 3,200 employees and customers and has an overarching policy on inclusiveness. Its works on initiatives on many of the nine grounds outlined in the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2011 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2011 and this year has chosen sexual orientation to bring visibility to this area as it is represented within its workforce.